Switchboard



May 3, 1927.

w. e. BALPH I SWITCHBOARD Filed M26. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN\IEJNTOR M/mer afi h.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES: [2/

May 3,1927. 1,626,660

w. G. BALPH SWITCHBOARD Filed p bzs, 1921 4 sheets-sheet 2 my. a.

WITNESYSES: Q INVENTOR zZ/dmMWa M/mer G. 50/,0/7,

' ATTORNEY Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILMEE G. BALPH, EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB I0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY A CORPORATION 01 PENNSYLVANIA.

swrrcmoann.

Application fled February. 1021. Serial No. 448,108.

My invention relates to switch boards and particularly to dead-front switch boards.

One object of my invention is to provide a dead-front switch board wherein a plurality of completely enclosed safety switch boxes or units are assembled upon a supportin structure in convenient positions and w erein the space between the boxes is closed by a front plate for precluding access to the rear of the board from the front thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dead-front switch board, wherein the supporting structure is built up of standard commercial shapes that are assembled into panels of various sizes for the purpose of accommodating a variety of combinations of switch-box units. Any number of panels may be arranged side by side and secured together to constitute a switch board for supporting anydesired number of switch units.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dead-front switch board, having the above characteristics, wherein front plates are provided for each panel section and having insert openings within which various combinations of switch units may be inserted in such a manner as to substantially close the insert openings.

Another object of my invention is to pro- I vide a switchboard, wherein the pull boxes are mounted at the top and bottom of the supporting structure and wherein the bus bars are disposed atthe rear of the supporting structure and between the pull boxes in such positions that the terminals of the switch units may be readily attached thereto or disconnected therefrom.

Another object of my invention is to provide switch units with flat conductors that extend through the enclosing boxes and which may be attached in an orderly arrangement to their respective bus bars by means of screws.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dead-front switch boa-rd, wherein complete safety switch boxes of standard, commercial construction, having fuse compartments closed by doors that are interlocked with the switch, may readily be mounted upon the supporting structure to thereby constitute a dead-front switch board wherein the fuses are accessible only when 2181! respective switches are in open 'posiion.

A further ob'ect of my invention is to'prov1d e a switchoard structure wherein the switch boxes are secured to the frame by means of screws or other attaching means that are accessible from the front of the board when the box covers are removed.

These and other objects, that will be made apparent throughout the further description of the invention, are attained by means of the switch-board structure hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of the dead-front switch board;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the switch board shown in Fig. 1;

'Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections through the switch board taken on the line III-III and IV-IV, respectively, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section of a detail of the construction taken on the line V-V of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a typical enclosed satiety-switch unit used in the switch board; an

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the typical switch unit, taken on the line VlL-VII of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the switch board includes a supporting structure 8 which comprises a plurality of rectangular panels 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, each panel consisting of vertical standards 16 made of angle iron and connected, at their ends and at intermediate points, by means of horizontal bars 17 that are also made of angle iron. In Fig. 2, which is a rear view of the switchboard structure, the angle irons 17 are omitted for the purpose of avoiding, confusion.

Each panel is so constructed as to accommodate boxes of predetermined design, and the horizontal bars 17 are, therefore, so spaced that the switch-box unit, to be hereinafter described, may be inserted between them and be supported thereby.

Pull boxes 18 and 19 are disposed respectively at the top and bottom of the supportmg structure. As shown, these boxes are built in sections and extend along two or more panel sect-ions. These boxes are for the purpose of receiving the various branchline terminals which may enter the boxes at the rear thereof. Each pull box is rovided with an open front which is close by means of doors 20 that are hinged at their 11 er horizontal edges and which are pro- \'1 ed with latch handles 21.

The adjacent sides 22 of the pull boxes are made of slate or other insulating material and serve to support the bus-bar terminals and connections to which the line terminals are connected.

Horizontal bus bars 23 are arranged in parallel relation at the rear of the supportmg structure and are disposed in the space between the pull boxes. These bars may be supported upon the frame structure in any suitable manner.

As shown in Fig. 1, a variety of switchbox units, having various capacities, are mounted upon the frame structure, a variety of combination of boxes being mounted on different panels. A typical form of switch box is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The switch box and enclosed mechanism is fully described in a copending application Serial No. 567,322, filed June 10, 1922, by Hubert K. Krantz, now Patent No. 1.551,3l5 and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, and are of standard commercial esign.

As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, each box includes a housing 24, end Walls 25 and side walls 26. A fuse panel 27, that is made of insulating material, is secured to the bottom of the housing and supports the fuse-clip terminals 28 and 29, the latter of which is connected to a branch-line terminal 31 which consists of a flat metal bar which extends through the bottom of the housing and which may be connected to its respective branch-line bus bar at the rear of the switch board.

A bafile wall or barrier 32 divides the housing into a fuse compartment 33 and a switch compartment 34. The switch mechanism consists of three switch members 35 of the brush type which are so pivoted upon a shaft 36 that they may swing into and out of engagement with contacts 37, which are connected to the fuse clip 28, and the mainline contacts 38 that are mounted upon the housing adjacent the outer face thereof. The contacts 38 are connected to their respective bus bars by means of flat conductor strips 39 that extend through the bottom of the housing. The conductor strips 31 and 39 are insulated from the housing by means of perforated insulating plates 41 that are attached to the exterior of the bottom 24.

The switch blades 35 are actuated by means of an operating handle42, by means of mechanism illustrated in the above-mentioned copending application. The plunger 43 is connected to the handle 42, and, when the switch is moved to closed position, the plunger 43 is advanced into the fuse compartment to constitute a switch interlock with the fuse-door latch to 'be hereinafter described.

The fuse compartment 33 is closed by means of a door 44 that is hinged to the side of the housing. The door is normally held in closed position by means of a latch bar 45 that is normally held in latched position by a spring 46. The bar is actuated by means of a handle 47 that extends through a slot in the door.

lVhen the switch is in closed position, the plunger 43 prevents unlatching movementof the bar 45, and, consequently, access to the fuse compartment is precluded so long as the switch is in closed position. When the switch is in open position, the plunger 43 is withdrawn to the osition illustrated in Fig. 7 and, therefore, the latch bar 45 ma be moved to releasing position. The switc chamber 34 is closed by means of a detachable cover 48 which may be removed for the purpose of inspecting the switch mechanism.

In assembling a switch unit upon the sup porting structure, the box is inserted between the proper horizontal bars 17 and is secured thereto by means of screws 49 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7. The screws 49 are accessible-from the front of the switch board when the detachable cover is removed and the fuse-compartment door is in open position.

The space surrounding the switch boxes or units and between the. pull boxes is closed by means of plates 51. Each panel section is preferably provided with a separate plate having suitable insert openin s 52 into which the switch boxes may be inserted. The boxes substantially close the openings in the plate and, therefore, access cannot be had to the rear of the switch board from the front thereof.

The combination of front plates and enclosed switch boxes constitutes a dead-front panel board in which standard commercial switch boxes are employed. The construction is neat in appearance and is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. By reason of the arrangement of panels herein illustrated and described, it will be apparent that switch boards of any desired size may readily be assembled and any combinations of switches may be installed. As illustrated. switches for controlling both light and power circuits of different capacities are mounted upon the switch board.

Vhile I have described and illustrated but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, changes, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as in invention:-

1. A switch b oard comprising a supporting structure, bus bars supported thereon and spaced therefrom, a plate covering the structure for precluding access to the bus bars from the front of the board and having an insert opening therein, and a box for enclosing fixtures and inserted within, and sub stantially closing, the opening and having a bottom disposed between the bus barsand the said plate.

2. A switch board comprising a supporting structure, a plurality of separate front plates mounted thereon for precluding access to the rear of the board from the front thereof, each )late having an insert openin therein, and oxes for enclosing electrica fixtures. and inserted within and substantially closing the openings.

3. A switch board comprising a supporting structure, a pair of pull boxes mounted in spaced relation upon the structure, a front plate closing the space between the boxes for precluding access to the back of the board from the front thereof and having an insert opening therein, and a box for enclosing electrical fixtures and inserted within, and substantially closing, the opening.

4. A switch board comprising a supporting structure, a pair of pull boxes mounted in spaced relation upon the structure and each havin an opening in the front wall thereof, a door for closing the opening in each pull box, a front plate for closing the space between the boxes to preclude access to the back of the board from the front thereof and having an insert opening therein, and a box for enclosing electrical fixtures and inserted within, and substantially closing, the said opening.

5. A switch board comprising a supporting structure, a pair of pull boxes mounted in spaced relation upon the structure, bus bars disposed between the adjacent walls of the pull boxes, a front plate for closing the space between the pull boxes to preclude access to the bus bars from the front of the board and having an insert opening therein, and a box for enclosing electrical fixtures and inserted within, and substantially closing, the said opening.

6. A dead-front switch board comprising a pair of oppositely disposed pull boxes havin doors, the uppermost door being hinge at its upper horizontal edge, a front plate disposed between the pull boxes for precluding access to the rear of the board from the front thereof, and a box for enclosin electrical fixtures and having a door hinge at one of the vertical edges of the box.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, this first day of Feb ruary, 1921.

WILMER G. BALPH. 

